Spotlight On Patriots Tate Shows The Light May Be Dimming

[PatsFans.com Article]

Spotlight On Patriots Tate Shows The Light May Be Dimming
By: Ian Logue

Taking a look at Brandon Tate's performance Thursday night, he had another tough night during New England's 18-17 loss to the Giants and it's going to be interesting to see if he survives the final roster cutdown. ...

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[Banjo]

Tate is a bust. It was only a third round pick though... can't win 'em all

 

[jmt57]

I think the play of Slater as a WR this preseason makes it a whole lot easier to cut Tate. Because of the acquisition of Ochocinco guys like Slater and Tate move further down in terms of importance at WR (i.e., the depth chart), but I think Slater has shown enough that not having Tate on the roster for that number of snaps and receptions should not be a concern. Taylor Price is faster than Tate and he and/or Slater should be more than able to adequately replace and improve on Tate's performance.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Dating back to when he was getting snaps last season, I never really saw what he brought to the table as an NFL WR. For a guy who's billed as having elite speed, he doesn't really get separation, plus he doesn't have great hands, quickness, or strength. I think the second ACL tear (during his rookie season) might have robbed him of a lot of his athleticism? By all accounts he's a good guy though, so if/when he gets cut, hopefully he'll catch on somewhere else.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Tate is done....... What a disappointment.

 

[Anteros]

Tate is done....... What a disappointment.

I second that. Unfortunately.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Tate certainly hasn't shown in this pre season that he has much of anything to bring to the mix. I don't usually put much stock in pre season performances by fringe/ST players. But Slater looks like he could be the exception to the rule. Like the commentators said, if he can deliver the kind of intermittent performance he has at WR for both Hoyer and last night more significantly Brady this pre season even 8-10 times over the course of the season, he's in. Fringe guys often look intriguing playing with the backups. When they can connect with the GOAT there is something tangible there to build off of.

 

[Nikolai]

I wanted Tate to break out, but it looks like he's going to be one of the 27 guys cut over the next 24 hours.

If he goes, I could see a team like the Raiders taking a chance on him. But with a crowded field this offseason, he might just slip down onto the PS if they put him on waivers.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

I wanted Tate to break out, but it looks like he's going to be one of the 27 guys cut over the next 24 hours.

If he goes, I could see a team like the Raiders taking a chance on him. But with a crowded field this offseason, he might just slip down onto the PS if they put him on waivers.

Yeah. I agree with your statement.

 

[NEPatriot]

I wanted Tate to break out, but it looks like he's going to be one of the 27 guys cut over the next 24 hours.

If he goes, I could see a team like the Raiders taking a chance on him. But with a crowded field this offseason, he might just slip down onto the PS if they put him on waivers.

I also wanted to see Tate break thru, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. He's a young receiver on a team with some older receivers in the last year of their contracts. He's also cheap. But he's struggled in his limited action this year. As he's not practice squad eligible, once we cut him he's gone.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Bye Bye Tate.

 

[BlueThunder]

With the number of games played..is Tate even eligible for the PS ?

 

[satz]

Slater being a spl team guy and a developing WR make tate expendable.

 

[Shelterdog]

With the number of games played..is Tate even eligible for the PS ?

No, he's not PS eligible.

I don't see how he contributes this year. Maybe you put him on IR (he actually did look hurt too me; he just hasn't been explosive at all this year), but if you cut him it's not the worst thing either.

EDIT: I suspect he looks even worse on the game film. Mallett couldn't find open guys in the fourth quarter and at that point of the game Tate should have just been scorching anyone covering him (he's a third round/third year guy playing against total scrubs). I'd be surprised if Tate was getting open and Mallett just kept not seeing him.

 

[bagwell368]

He'll hook on with Oakland or Buffalo or someone like that. The first time he rips a 50+ yard return then some here will decry our lack of vision, and that BB is an idiot. After a year or two he'll quietly retire.

Nice stab, move on.

 

[jmt57]

With the number of games played..is Tate even eligible for the PS ?

No.

Eligibility for the Practice Squad consists of:

• Players without an accrued season of NFL experience. An accrued season is six or more games on the club's active/inactive, reserved-injured or physically unable to perform lists.
  
• Players who were on the 45-man active list for fewer than nine regular-season games in their only accrued season.
  
• Players who have not been on the practice squad for the two previous seasons.

Tate played in sixteen games last year, so he's not eligible for the Practice Squad per the first and second criteria. Besides, he would never clear waivers to make it to the PS. If late round picks like Thomas Welch and Ted Larsen get claimed by another team, it's a safe bet that some other team will take Tate. Besides, even if he was eligible he would probably prefer to look elsewhere for a fresh start.



Another possible landing spot: Tampa Bay. Other than Mike Williams they don't have much at WR, and Tate is young enough (he's only 23) that he fits into the Bucs' plan to build a team with youth.

 

[SanAngeloState]

I liked tate, for some strange reason he just didn't work out. very sad.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

No.

Eligibility for the Practice Squad consists of:

• Players without an accrued season of NFL experience. An accrued season is six or more games on the club's active/inactive, reserved-injured or physically unable to perform lists.
  
• Players who were on the 45-man active list for fewer than nine regular-season games in their only accrued season.
  
• Players who have not been on the practice squad for the two previous seasons.

Tate played in sixteen games last year, so he's not eligible for the Practice Squad per the first and second criteria. Besides, he would never clear waivers to make it to the PS. If late round picks like Thomas Welch and Ted Larsen get claimed by another team, it's a safe bet that some other team will take Tate. Besides, even if he was eligible he would probably prefer to look elsewhere for a fresh start.

Another possible landing spot: Tampa Bay. Other than Mike Williams they don't have much at WR, and Tate is young enough (he's only 23) that he fits into the Bucs' plan to build a team with youth.

They have A Benn, their 2nd rounder from last year. I think Josh might be calling from the Rams. Tate played decent when he ran Moss type routes.

 

[jmt57]

They have A Benn, their 2nd rounder from last year. I think Josh might be calling from the Rams. Tate played decent when he ran Moss type routes.

Tampa Bay does have Benn, but Tate should be good enough to be #3 there, if not compete for #2 WR.

2010 Stats:
Arrelious Benn: 15 games, 25 receptions, 395 yards, 15.8 ypr, 2 TD, 1 fumble

Brandon Tate: 16 games, 24 receptions, 432 yards, 18.0 ypr, 3 TD, 1 fumble

After Benn they only have Sammie Stroughter (24 rcpt, 239 yards, 0 TD), Michael Spurlock (17/250/2) and Dezmon Briscoe (6/93/1); add in Josh Freeman at QB and that's probably as good a situation as he could ask for.




St. Louis may indeed sign him but if he goes there I think Tate will still be buried on the depth chart, behind Amendola, Gibson, Avery and Sims-Walker.

 

[TB_12]

What a shame